2008 Woodie Awards
The Naked Truth on Stress
Ariane Rasmussen Contributing Writer
Issue date: 4/28/05 Section: Special Report
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Every single person has been a victim of stress at one point or another whether aware of it or not because stress is simply a part of living. So the question raised in many of our minds is where in the "stress cycle" are most of Sacred Heart University's students?
Stress is defined by Dictionary.com as a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression."
According to the Wrong Diagnosis website, which has collected data from several medical sources, stress symptoms can include anxiety, overwhelming worry, difficulty with decisions, difficulty thinking clearly, loss of confidence, loss of hope, loss of hope, headache, sleep disorders, irritability, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction, low morale. Severe stress can also result in palpitations, over-breathing, muscle tension, back ache, aches and pain, poor posture, sweating, and even digestive symptoms due to the high levels of anxiety.
To our relief, in ordinary levels, emotional stress is not considered a formal psychological disorder. However, extremely high levels of stress can be dangerous leading to the symptoms mentioned.
Every college student interviewed agreed to have been under some type of stress at some point throughout the school year. They all also agreed that stress levels increase with grade level and that several factors contribute to it such as school, work, sports or clubs, family and friends. However, most of them also believe that school causes them the most stress since the average student has five to six classed per semester to balance with other things.
"I think school is the factor that affects stress levels the most, but sports, family, friends, and work also add up to it," said Erin Nash (junior, Mahwah, NJ).
Stress is defined by Dictionary.com as a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression."
According to the Wrong Diagnosis website, which has collected data from several medical sources, stress symptoms can include anxiety, overwhelming worry, difficulty with decisions, difficulty thinking clearly, loss of confidence, loss of hope, loss of hope, headache, sleep disorders, irritability, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction, low morale. Severe stress can also result in palpitations, over-breathing, muscle tension, back ache, aches and pain, poor posture, sweating, and even digestive symptoms due to the high levels of anxiety.
To our relief, in ordinary levels, emotional stress is not considered a formal psychological disorder. However, extremely high levels of stress can be dangerous leading to the symptoms mentioned.
Every college student interviewed agreed to have been under some type of stress at some point throughout the school year. They all also agreed that stress levels increase with grade level and that several factors contribute to it such as school, work, sports or clubs, family and friends. However, most of them also believe that school causes them the most stress since the average student has five to six classed per semester to balance with other things.
"I think school is the factor that affects stress levels the most, but sports, family, friends, and work also add up to it," said Erin Nash (junior, Mahwah, NJ).